Connie Hall has been a teacher at the Marquand-Zion school for nearly 30 years. She was voted as Teacher of the Year in 2006 by the students at Marquand-Zion through the Fredericktown Wal-Mart program. However,  according to the April 17 R-VI School Board meeting minutes, school authorities were offering Hall an option to resign without specifying why.

A security breach regarding the name of a student in an e-mail is the apparent problem according to Hall.

“I wasn’t doing anything to hurt those students.” Hall said in a telephone interview. “I love those kids!”

Marquand residents were protesting Monday at the school because they were under the impression Hall had been fired.

R-VI Superintendent Duane Schindler said the statement that Hall was fired was “technically incorrect.” Schindlerrefused to elaborate, saying the school chooses to adhere to Missouri Sunshine Laws regarding closed records on personnel issues. The Motion to offer Hall an option to resign carried with all board members voting yes, except Leitha Homan who abstained from the vote.

Hall pointed out on the phone interview she has sufficient time in, but didn’t want to retire.

Hall said, “Those are my kids. I love that school, it’s been my home all these years.”

Protesters seemed to agree with Hall. They had circulated a petition during the protest asking the school to install Hall as their coach. Two pages had been filled and one more was collecting several more names.

Sheriff David Lewis was at the school and told the group they had to move off school property during the protest, but had a right to protest peaceably.

While the protest was going on, the school was locked and a county deputy was posted outside. Some parents were concerned about the potential fire danger to the students.  However, Schindler said, as a security precaution, the school doors had been locked to prevent any strangers from entering the school. The children attending classes were able to leave as the doors would open from the inside.

Hall said she has not had an opportunity to discuss the matter with the school board as of Tuesday, April 24.